Page 21 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

“Walking across town?”

“I just got into town a little while ago.”

“Isn’t your relative waiting up for you?”

“They don’t know I’m coming. I didn’t want to tip anyone off and be caught mid-escape.” His mind drifted to those lost directions. His parents could already be lying in wait at his mother’s house, for all he knew.

“That’s a dangerous way to travel.Pleasetell me someone knows where you are.”

Noah smiled a little. “A friend dropped me off at the bus station.”

“Is he aware of where you are now?”

Noah lifted his head. Stan had been freaked out enough driving him to Nashville. “I didn’t want to put him in danger. The less he was aware of, the better.”

“Have you called him?”

The map print out had also had Stan’s cell number on it. “Left my phone behind. I didn’t want to be tracked and I can’t find the paper I had his number written on. I had it stored, so I didn’t have to memorize it. Hopefully I can remember what it is.”

The man frowned. “Yikes.”

“I thought I’d planned my escape better,” Noah murmured, lowering his gaze. “I was in such a rush to get the hell out, I guess I spaced.”

“It was that bad?”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

“You wanna talk about it?”

When he lifted his stare, he saw the man giving him full attention. Guilt hit Noah square in the chest. He couldn’t tell his bartender the truth.Hey, I ran away from home. I just turned eighteen about an hour or so ago. I used a fake ID to get in here.“I really don’t feel like rehashing it right now. I want to focus on the fact I got away and I’m free to be the person I want to be. I plan on leaving all the bullshit in the past and moving on.”

His bartender smiled, a relieved expression on his face. “Good plan.”

“I appreciate the offer.”

The man lifted his hand and trailed his fingertips along Noah’s chin. “Well, it’s nearing closing at this point. I can give you a ride to wherever you need once I’m done for the night. Assuming this relative is fairly local?”

“Yeah, they are.” Noah smiled. “But it’s a little late to be knocking on their door tonight. I’ll head over in the morning.”

“Where will you end up tonight?”

“Any cheap hotels close? One where I won’t get murdered or end up with a flesh-eating disease?”

His bartender laughed, the sound warm and inviting. The smile that followed caused Noah’s heart to speed up. “How about you spend the night with me? Ipromisenot to murder you.Orgive you a flesh-eating disease.”

Noah grinned. “Fuck me again like that and youmightkill me.”

The guy grinned, appearing to enjoy the compliment. “I offered you a roof over your head. I saidnothingabout more sex.”

Noah writhed in the man’s lap, turning slightly to fully face him. “Seriously? One and done?” He grinned wickedly. “Not fair.”

That earned him another warm chuckle. He liked the man’s smile.A lot. He wanted to see more of them.

That thought hit him square in the gut.

He’d wanted a hook-up. Nothing more.

No need to be clingy,his inner voice whispered.Just because he fucked the life out of you doesn’t mean he’s ‘the one.’

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